Method of treating hydrocarbons



atented July 6, 1926.

. UNITED STATES- ROY CROSS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

METHOD OF TREATING HYDROCARBONS.

1T0 Drawing.

M invention relates to a method of treat- 1 drocarbons and has, for its object. the e hyd ration, decolorization and neutraliza- .on of oil by the intimate contacting of the i1 either in the liquid or vapor state with ried hydrous silicate of alumina. The most aluable hydrous silicate of alumina or zeo- .te for this purpose is the naturally occuring substance known as bentonite. Bentonte is the best of this class of adsorbent maarial and is possibly the active principle to e found in fullers earth. A typical qual- 5y of bentonite is that found near Ardmore, Fouth Dakota and has the following com osition: I V

Natural.

This material has the property of absorbng a very large amount of water, forming gelatinous mass with it and is capable of Ieing diluted with water and forming a coloid to such a .degree that the water permaiently remains milky.

For the purpose of use, the hydrous siliate of alumina is perfectly dried but not gated. It is then crushed and screened to e sizes desired. For some purposes it is ised in a'finely' divided powder, others as oarse granules. For the dehydration of iils, the coarse granules are best as they abo'rb the water from the oil without producng aturbidity. For decolorizing lubricatng oils, the coarse granules are best as they Form a bed more pervious to the passage of he oil. To obtain the greatest decolorizng action, however, the more finely divided )articles are most effective. After the hylrous silicate of alumina has been subjected o the action of the oil, it may be renewed )y burning out the adsorbed carbonaceous naterial. In this case there is always a ;mall amount of carbon remaining. This residual carbon may be readily removed by oassingdry chlorine over the hot h drou's iilicate of alumina. This renews t e'abaorptive effect of the" hydrous silicate of Application filed December 22, 1921. Serial No. 524,290.

amount. of anhydrous aluminum chloride, because of the chemical susceptibility of the aluminum silicate in this form.

When rejuvenated" by chlorine, however,

of hydrous silicate of alumina and discharging it into a still containing hydrous silicate of alumina. The vapors arising from the still are made to pass through a dephlegmator containing hydrous silicate of alumina. At the normal rate of distillation under these circumstances pressure benzine which is ordinarily yellowish to red in color is now obtained water white in color.

When crude oil is treated direct, using a tower still, the hydrous silicate of alumina is placed in the upper portion of the tower or the tower furthest removed from the still so that all of the benzine fraction goes through it. The size of this tower and the amount of hydrous silicate'of alumina required varies with the character of the distillate. Ordinarily when processes such as the Cross process described in Patent No. 1423500 are used, one pound of hydrous silicate of alumina in finely divided condition is suflicient for one pound of gasoline. If the hydrous silicate of alumina is placed in the still alone a larger quantity is required. When distillation is complete, the hydrous silicate of alumina is steamed out to remove all of the oil and the particles have a greenish to black appearance.

ydrous silicate of alumina is now placed in the ordinary fullers earth burners in which the volatile carbonaceous matter is removed. Fromthe fullers earth burner it is dischar ed into a vertical tile tower through.

whic ispassed a current of dry chlorine gas at sue a rate and in such quantity that the chlorine gas doesnot appreciably escape from the top. The residue at the bottom is drawn oil and again used. When the resi due after treatment with chlorine is used, it has been found that the gasoline distilled The used I has a lower end point and a lower content impregnated with carbonaceous matter that it is subjected to the usual treatment.

Inthe treatment of kerosene or other refined petroleum, which has previously been treated "with acid,' the hydrous silicate of alumnia removes the last trace of acid as well as decolorizes and dehydrates the oil. The treatment of lubricants with hydrous silicate of alumina is accomplished in the same manner as with ordinary fullers earth using preferably 20 to 30 mesh *material.. The residual hydrous silicate of alumina is regenerated in the usual manner except that the added step of'treatment with dry-chlorine is used.

For the treatment of transformer oils, 2

hydrous silicate of alumina is particularly valuable as it removes the last trace of moisture without adding anything to the oil which will have. a greater conductivity than the water even in case the last traces .of 30" hydrous silicate of alumina are not removed.

\Vhat I claim is as follows 1 1. A method of dehydratinghydrocarbon oil which consists in intimately mixing it, with bentonite andseparatingthetreated oil from the bentonite. A

2. A method of dehydrating oil which consists in intimately mixingbentonite in a finely divided state with the oil,

and separating the treated oilafromthe 49 water absorbent material.

fRO Y oaoss.

hydrocarborr 

